Police break New Zealand paedophile ring

Police in New Zealand say they have broken a paedophile ring with links to other countries, including Australia.

The police taskforce dealing with online child exploitation says children as young as 13 months were targeted by the paedophile ring, whose members allegedly recorded their abuse of children and distributed the images among themselves and overseas.

Aaron John Ellmers, 41, has pleaded guilty to about 60 charges.

The charges include sexual violation of children, stupefying, making an intimate visual recording and dealing in people for sexual exploitation.

Ellmers was remanded in custody until sentencing in May.

Two other men are also before the courts.

Police have made 35 referrals to authorities in other countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, the US and Canada.